I’ve watched James regress in coverage over the past few years, this was coming for a while now. Had he not been such a leader on the defense, they probably would have cut him several years ago.

You could see many plays in the past two or three years where opposing tight ends would lose him with ease.

He was still great at lining up the defense, and tough against the run. But teams are turning tight ends into large wideouts (they don’t block anymore) and the Steelers need to adjust to the game or pay for it.

The Denver game illustrated how the wheels fall off a 3-4 defense when the linemen have no subs and are gassed, and you’re unable to stop the short passing game in the flat.

James was awesome, and a favorite of mine. Like Aaron Smith, he was of the blue-collar, just-get-it-done mold.

For all the Steelers that are getting visits from the Turk, I hope they take advantage of the time they now have with their families (as most of them have kids now).

Yup…Warren called it all right….Finished 12-4 and made the playoffs and still had a chance at the #1 seed for the AFC into the last week of the regular season…Some of these cuts and contract would of been done last year if not for a short off season….just a little bit of reloading!

I remember when the Jets let him go, said he was a bust. They had him as in outside in a 4-3. Yeah about that. James Farrior was one of the best Steelers linebackers in team history, and that’s an elite group #timetoreload

that should allow them to match all but the most absurd offer for Wallace – and work on a multi-year long term deal with Brown…

_______________

Not.

Noone thinks Ziggy is ready to go, they will probably try and use Casey for one more year, and draft his replacement this year. Mendenhall will play this year, but probably not get C2 for the money he will want.

Foote took more and more of Farriors playing time last year, and will be asked to make the D calls this year, while someone else is drafted, groomed for the role. Hightower maybe.

By and large these cuts are for players that were not worth their salaries anymore.

This has just been confirmed by Schefter. and Yes Schefter is required to validate all news by a tweet. This holds true even if there is a tweet from a reliable source like a player or players agent who tweets it first. Its not official until Schefter makes it official. This way if a player, agent, or media persons twitter gets hacked we wont believe the news until Schefter confirms it, this prevents lots of confusion and misinformation. Schefter’s tweets can be taken as 100% accurate all of the time.

Thanks to J Farrior. Now we need to cut Mendenhall and Hampton. keep Foote 1 more year. Leftwich and Dixon can go too. Well all these players were fine in their time but now we get younger and move on. After Farrior cut we are approx 13 million under the cap. I don’t see Wallace or Brown going anywhere. Here we Go Steelers here We Go!

Best of luck to Hines, Aaron, James and likely the several more vets that won’t be with the team this year. All of them have been wonderful football players to have on my team, and unfortunately there comes a time when it is time to call it a day. That day has come, and it does not diminish in any way their contributions over the years.

They are also cuting Chris Kemoeatu but he deserves it due to his poor play last year.

The Steelers are taking care of business right now, as they should. They are dealing with the salary cap and likely trying to do everything they can to keep Wallace, and then Brown next year. They are a very well run organization that makes most of the right decisions most of the time in my opinion.

and none of these cuts will hurt the steelers,, they will grab an LB like Duante Robinson, & he’ll turn out to be Ray Lewis II,, they will grab some DT built like John Henderson to fill the DE roll,,, no sweat when you draft players with heart and size..

we should send Andy Reid to Pittsburgh to be a player personnel intern,, maybe he could learn a thing or two.

As Dorothy said to the Scarecrow, I think I’ll miss you most of all. Thanks, James, from the bottom of my heart for the great years, the great plays, the great memories. Steeler Nation will never forget.

So they should be around $12 million under the cap. Hampton is almost certain to go, with Foote on the bubble. That’ll put us, say, $15 million under the cap. Set aside 5 for draft picks, and that leaves about $10 million. They could potentially match an offer for Wallace or use some of the room to grab a halfway decent guard or ILB. The team has taken a depth hit, but most of these veterans were either backups or way past their prime. Colbert needs to hit a home run on this draft. They’ll need good, cheap contracts over the next couple of years to accommodate the restructurings. If he can do it, they’ll be in good shape.

I’m with the guys who are saying “cut Mendenhall” in regards to his overratedless and inferiority to Redman, BUT remember that Mendenhall has a very small cap hit this year. Cutting him is probably not a good move.

I remember when Farrior joined the team, what a pleasant surprise. At first you would think he is too small for ILB but all he did was play at a Pro Bowl level for many years.

He may not have got the recognition, but that’s just a numbers game…if Ed Reed hadn’t switched to free safety he and Polamalu would both have less PB appearanaces. Same deal with Farrior. There were just not enough spots available at the position, especially when you are competing against Ray Lewis for one of them.

People, be realistic. The Steelers defense was once again number 1. Media making a big deal over “name cuts” but these players did not play much or had little impact. Way overblown (cue good lockerroom guys and leadership comments)

Facts are in:

Farrior – alternated with Foote a lot, was out on bench much of the crucial times;

Smith – played only 4 games all year, hurt 4 of last 5 years

Ward – Was 5th receiver, did not play much

Keaumatu – did not start

McFadden – Special teams only

The only older players really playing are Hampton, who does not really have to move that much, and Kiesel, who is still playing well.

that should allow them to match all but the most absurd offer for Wallace – and work on a multi-year long term deal with Brown…

_______________

Not.

Noone thinks Ziggy is ready to go, they will probably try and use Casey for one more year, and draft his replacement this year. Mendenhall will play this year, but probably not get C2 for the money he will want.

Foote took more and more of Farriors playing time last year, and will be asked to make the D calls this year, while someone else is drafted, groomed for the role. Hightower maybe.

By and large these cuts are for players that were not worth their salaries anymore.

Most of us Steelers fans have seen this coming for a few years now. Farrior used to be one of the premier ILB’s in the league but father time sure was breathin’ down his neck. It’s gotta end some time. Looks like I gotta retire my #51 jersey and pick up a #56!

I love how the Steeler fans are all ok with these cuts. “This was a long time coming.” “That guys sucked anyway.”

Ward was a #5 receiver, Kemoeatu was a backup guard, Farrior was rapidly losing snaps to Foote, McFadden couldn’t even keep his starting job from William Gay, and Smith played less than 20 games in 3 years. So yes, we’re okay with the cuts. As for veterans, there are still Keisel, Harrison, Polamalu, Clark, Taylor, Roethlisberger, Colon, Miller, etc…

Hope the Ravens are enjoying the success they had against the Steelers last year. Again, when they beat the Steelers, it is their Super Bowl. It won’t happen again, not in a million years. Ravens starting to look like the old team now, led by old man Lewis. They have the biggest whiner of a coach in the NFL, along with a QB with an inferiority complex who will never win a Super Bowl.

Clearing house of old Super Bowl tested veterans….Ward, Farrior, Smith, Kemoeatu….Hampton (34, ACL tear), Keisel (turning 34, groin tear), Clark (turning 33), Harrison (turning 34), Taylor (turning 32), and Polamalu (turning 31) are pushing the back nine and may be gone soon as well. Reminds me of the Patriots defense circa-2008, when age, injury, free agency and retirements led to a 4 season struggle on defense after years of strong play. We’ll see if the Steelers can rebuild on the fly like the Patriots have….

MrDraft2012 says:
Mar 2, 2012 11:38 AM
Who’s in charge of their cap? Colbert? They’ve been cutting people since January and still can’t afford to tag Wallace. That’s a joke!
___________________________

Hope the Steeler fans have enjoyed the success past decade cause its over. Tomlin is over his head, he’s only won with a great roster already built for him. He got out coached by Fox and Tebow in the playoffs. this year he gets exposed. 6-10 for Steelers. Bengals are 60 million under the cap and have two 1st round draft picks. they are the future of the division. you had a nice impressive run though.

They do because the Ravens can’t beat the Steelers when it matters the most…….In the playoffs.
So their fans have to take their shots when they can, the whole “We swept them in the regular season”. So what,beat them when it really matters and then you can beat your chest all you want.

I love how the Steeler fans are all ok with these cuts. “This was a long time coming.” “That guys sucked anyway.”

Please. Cutting veterans who know the system and provide that presence is necessary. Just look at my Patriots of 2009 in a rock-solid system. I hope their plan is careful.

——-

Truly the mark of ignorance — not a surprise as it comes from a Patriots fan.

All of the Steelers recent cuts have been players who have been seeing reducing playing time and declining on the field. They were great players for their time, but their run has reached it’s end. Steelers fans have known this day was coming for years — that is why we are okay with it. They went as far as they could go.

As far as the rock solid Patriots since 2009 go, the Steelers still have more young talent and have drafted better. The Steelers were the AFC Champions in 2010 and 12-4 relying mostly on players who have been ascending into the roles that are being vacated by the recent cuts.

If not for the injuries to Ben, Mendenhall, and Pouncey – you can bet a healthy Steelers team would have sent the Patriots home packing in the playoffs, after all, it took a miracle for them win the only game vs. a team with a winning record all last year.

Hope the Steeler fans have enjoyed the success past decade cause its over. Tomlin is over his head, he’s only won with a great roster already built for him. He got out coached by Fox and Tebow in the playoffs. this year he gets exposed. 6-10 for Steelers. Bengals are 60 million under the cap and have two 1st round draft picks. they are the future of the division. you had a nice impressive run though.

—–

So, one upset loss in the playoffs and it’s all over.

Same way it was for the Saints last year.
Perhaps the Packers run is finished too?

Ironic – the Bengals are the future of the division? Chad Johnson had similar comments to that in 2005, referring to the Bengals as color TV while the Steelers are black and white….it was going to be the Bengals for a while too.

How did that work out?

Ignorant people who think it is all Tomlin and have no clue that there is an entire organization with a great GM and ownership behind building a team, one that has found a way to win more games than any team in the NFL since 1992 — more games than any team since the merger….

Who’s in charge of their cap? Colbert? They’ve been cutting people since January and still can’t afford to tag Wallace. That’s a joke!

———————————————–
You should understand there’s a difference between “can’t afford to tag Wallace” and don’t want to tag Wallace. The Steelers have a longstanding policy of not paying through the nose for players–read: wideouts–who only touch the ball a few times each game. Reportedly, the Steelers have made their strategic decision not to use the franchise tag on Wallace, but instead to go with the first-round restricted free-agent tender.

I want to keep Wallace, as does Colbert–but Antonio Brown proved more productive toward season’s end, and his contract is up for renewal next year. This is a business that requires making hard decisions. It’s possible we’ll be able to keep both, but if not, the team has demonstrated more than once it can survive the loss of its top receiver. The Steelers have better than a 64 percent winning percentage during Colbert’s tenure, and only New England has appeared in more Super Bowls during that period. The man knows what he’s doing.

I hope we can keep Wallace. I’m sure Antonio will draw more double coverage next year without him. I have confidence in the organization that they will do whats best, to not hurt us down the road.
I do beleive if we can only keep one for the long run that Brown is the best choice.

They recognised house cleaning was in order and they are getting rid of the sick and wounded and those slow of feet. Good for them.

The Pack have a few of the above and I’ve heard little about movements on their part. Hope they recognize who the players are and aren’t and start cutting: Driver, Clifton, Soto. Time to enjoy retirement.

I gotta laugh at some of these comments, most from fans of losing teams and wannabes. When your team drops a chance to go to the SB in the end zone, and then shanks a 20-yard FG, you get frustrated, especially when the team you’re chasing has a 2-time SB QB instead of Joey Flacco. Don’t get your hopes up too high boys . . . after all, you had your chance in a “down” year . . . and didn’t get the job done.

ravenator says: man this team is old. swept by the ravens and tebowd out of the playoffs

You might be right. A young healthy Steelers team would never be swept by the lesser ravens. BTW how does it feel to always be the bride’s maid? With unibrow at the helm, you will never see a Lombardi!

We Ravens fans were freaked to see Heap, Gregg, Mason, McClain & McGahee go last year and it all worked out well. when you get old & game has declined & injuries set in (ala Farrior, Kemeaotu, Ward & Smith), cutting deadwood is a step forward, not back. I’m waiting to see them drop Hampton & lose Wallace…those would be meaningful (and that’s why they probably won;t happen). But these cuts so far are all “fat”…not cutting muscle and bone yet.

They will cut Hampton. If they dont thats silly. If they loose Wallace.. so be it. Ya he has speed and he opens the field for others, but he lacks determination & grit!!! They will be a better team in 2012 and go further into the playoffs… count on it!!!

holeinone09 says:
Mar 2, 2012 12:30 PM
Hope the Ravens are enjoying the success they had against the Steelers last year. Again, when they beat the Steelers, it is their Super Bowl. It won’t happen again, not in a million years. Ravens starting to look like the old team now, led by old man Lewis. They have the biggest whiner of a coach in the NFL, along with a QB with an inferiority complex who will never win a Super Bowl.

holeinone09 says:
Mar 2, 2012 12:30 PM
Hope the Ravens are enjoying the success they had against the Steelers last year. Again, when they beat the Steelers, it is their Super Bowl. It won’t happen again, not in a million years. Ravens starting to look like the old team now, led by old man Lewis. They have the biggest whiner of a coach in the NFL, along with a QB with an inferiority complex who will never win a Super Bowl.

_______

PUT YOUR MONEY WHERE YOUR MOUTH IS??

WILLING TO PLACE A BET THAT IT WON’T HAPPEN AGAIN??

IF NOT, THEN SHUT UP!!!!

********************

Tough guy? 2 wins in one year makin you feel like Mike Tyson? Or was that just Happy Hour talk? Reminds me of some of the idiots I met while trying to scalp a ticket outside of M&T Bank. All talk.